Deputy-Chief William Curran
Fire/EMS Bureau
Deputy Chief William J. Curran
heads the Fire/EMS Bureau which includes: 5 Assistant Chiefs, 27
District Chiefs, and 165 fire companies operating on three shifts with
approximately 900 employees. The Bureau has 6 divisions: Fire/EMS
Division, USAR/Technical Rescue Division, Special Hazards/Water Rescue
Division, Health and Safety Division, Fire/EMS Response Division, and
Research/Inventory Division.
Fire/EMS Division: The Fire/EMS Division operates a
total of 39 engine companies, 12 truck companies (which respond to all
fire and extrication calls), 4 heavy rescues (which are specially
trained in technical rescue and hazardous materials response and must
respond to all fire incidents within their district). All companies
respond to medical incidents. This
division has five engine companies
that are staffed with Paramedics for ALS response with all other
firefighters are trained at a minimum level of EMT.
USAR/Technical Rescue Division: The
USAR/Technical Rescue Division is responsible for Urban Search and
Rescue tasks and all other rescue functions that are not water
related. The USAR contingents of the Fire Department include two core
groups, each managed by a District Chief.
One engine company, one truck company, and two rescue companies
make up a “Core” USAR group. A trench rescue equipment vehicle
responds with either USAR Core Group. The four heavy rescue companies
are trained in extrication and other various forms of technical rescue
(including confined space, trench, building collapse and high angle
rescue).
Special Hazards/Water Rescue Division: The
Special Hazards/Water Rescue Division consists of two hazardous
materials response teams as well as water rescue. Each hazmat team
consists of one engine company, one rescue company, one tactical foam
unit, and eleven hazardous materials technicians per shift. The
hazardous materials teams are trained and equipped to respond to
Weapons of Mass Destruction events and have extensive training in
response to Bio-Terrorism. Water Rescue is responsible for
surface/swift water rescue as well as dive rescue/recovery.
Health and Safety Division: The
Health and Safety Division is responsible for providing Risk
Management and Infectious Control for the entire department and
includes three District Chiefs
that respond to all emergency incidents in the capacity of an Incident
Safety Officer. This division also provides air services to refill
self-contained breathing apparatus for all companies.
Fire/EMS Response Division: The
Fire/EMS Bureau is the largest bureau in the department with
approximately 900 members. The Fire/EMS Response Division is responsible
for the placement and re-assignment of personnel within the bureau. This
division works in conjunction with the Nashville Fire Fighters &
Fire Service Employees Association – Local 763 when dealing with
bidding procedures. It also
keeps track of documentation and recording of the bid process, budgeted
monies for regular overtime and special operations as well as
coordinating training with the Office of Emergency Management and The
National Fire Academy in scheduling personnel for outside training.
This division is responsible for maintaining records of fire hall
inspections and daily activity reports from supervisors as well.
Research
and Inventory Division: The Research/Inventory Division reports directly
to the Deputy Chief and is responsible for procurement of all equipment,
apparatus, tools and supplies necessary to carry out the bureau’s role
in public safety. This
office is responsible for overseeing all fiscal affairs of the bureau,
which includes: research, specifications, budget/accounting and
coordinating planning for the future with all divisions and bureaus
throughout the department.
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